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Winemaker's Notes

Remelluri are rightly renowned as one of the finest producers in the Rioja region and it's easy to see why. This is a finely crafted, elegant style with great structure and complexity. The nose is warm and inviting with hints of wild strawberry and spice, overlaid with light wood notes. The palate is silky smooth, mellow and warm with savory, ripe berry fruit, touches of tobacco and a little spice.

Critical Acclaim

RP94

The Wine Advocate - "The 2007 Remelluri is composed of 90% Tempranillo, 5% Graciano, and 5% Garnacha fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged for 16 months in seasoned French and American oak. Deep purple in color, it reveals an already complex bouquet of exotic spices, leather, violets, mineral, and assorted black fruits. In the glass it is succulent with plush fruit, terrific grip and volume, and a lengthy, rich, supple finish. It can be approached now but is likely to continue filling out for several more years.

The modern winery of Remelluri was established in 1967. The vineyards are farmed organically and the winery employs an integrated system of agriculture. The winemaker is the renowned Telmo Rodriguez. Remelluri’s Blanco is the reference standard against which all others are measured in virtually every vintage."

Remelluri Winery

Founded by Jaime Rodriguez Salis in 1968, in what were the ruins of a farm that belonged to a monastery from the 14th-century, the winery was a pioneer of the estate-bottled Rioja wines and the concept of "terroir". It is the first winery in Rioja in modern history to bottle wine only from its own vineyards. The vineyards are located in the town of Labastida in Rioja Alavesa, in a natural amphitheater between the mountains of Toloño and San Cristobal, in the foothills of the Sierra Cantabria, 2,100 ft. (700 m) above sea level. This is the highest elevation vineyard in Rioja. The vineyards are planted on 173 acres (70 ha) of well-drained slopes with excellent exposure to the sun. They are protected from west winds but open to some north winds, which help lower the risk of pests that result from humidity. The yield is approximately 4,500-5,000 kg/ha, where in Rioja the average is 6,500 kg/ha. When harvesting, the fruit from vines younger than 7 years is not allowed to be part of the final blend. No chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides are used. Low yields and a high rate of selection at harvest are goals of this property. The soil is chalk-clay in different proportions. These vineyards are a result of the decomposition of the mountain. The climate is typical of mild summers, cold winters; big temperature changes between day and night, with snow common in winter. Temperatures can be as low as 23°F
View all Remelluri Wines

About Rioja

This highly regarded area of Spain makes some of the best Tempranillo-based wines in the world. Once the only DOCa (recently joined by Priorat in 2001), Rioja is divided into 3 sub-regions: Rioja Baja, Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa. There are 4 red varieties and 3 white varieties allowed in the Rioja DOC. Tempranillo definitely takes center stage, followed by Garnacha (Grenache)), which is sometimes added for body, then Graciano and Mazuelo (Carignan). The region also makes roses. For whites, the main grape is Viura (or Macebo), producing fresh, early-drinking wines. Malvasia, the grape that was once the most planted white, is found less often.

Notable Facts

The Rioja wine trade is somewhat confusing. Grapes are typically brought to a merchant's bodega from one of the 20,000+ growers in the region, or via a cooperative. The wine is then bottled and labelled by that bodega. Rioja's Consejo Regulador keeps track of all vineyards and bodegas to make sure they are following the DOCa regulations. Put in place to ensure quality, the system also controls prices.

As with the rest of Spain, the wine label may state Crianza, Reserva or Gran Reserva, depending on barrel & bottle maturation. Crianzas are usually found within two years of the vintage and offer fresh, ripe wines. Reserva and Gran Reserva will be found a few years after the vintage, as the bodega will be aging the wines in barrel and bottle before release. Both typically show more secondary characteristics of spice and oak ageing.

About Spain

The third largest country in production, Spain ranks first in land under vine. Diversity and innovation are the key factors bringing Spain back into the world wine market.

The most popular red varieties of Spain include Tempranillo and Garnacha (Grenache). Whites don't garner quite as much recognition, but there are some regional varieties not to be missed, like Albarino and Verdejo. The popular red regions of Spain include Rioja, known for its outstanding wines of the Tempranillo grape; Ribera del Duero, producing high quality reds from Tempranillo and Garnacha; Galacia, with the sub-region of Rias Baixas, home to the deliciously crisp and floral Albarino grape; and Priorat, a region increasing in popularity with its high-quality cult reds. Other regions of note are Rueda, growing the Verdejo grape, La Mancha, a wide desert region, covered in the most planted white variety in the world, Airen, and Jumilla, making wines based on Monastrell (Mourvedre).

Spain's wine laws are based on the Denominacion de Origen (DO) classification system, devised in the 1930's. A four tiered system, the most basic level is Vina de Mesa (table wine) followed by Vino de la Tierra (country wine), DO and at the top DOC. Currently, only Rioja and Priorat have DOC status, while over 65 DO's scatter the country.

Most DO regions are classified and regulated by how long they age the wines. On a red wine label, one may find the terms Crianza, Reserva or Gran Reserva, denoting the wine's barrel and bottle time. Crianza is usually two years between barrel and bottle (the time in each depends on the DO and/or the winemaker), Reserva up to 4 years and Gran Reserva 5 – 6 years. Classifications of each region and wine are controlled by the region's Consejo Regulador.

Alcohol By Volume Guide

Most wine ranges from 10-16% alcohol by volume. Some varietals tend to have higher (for example Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon) or lower alcohol levels (Pinot Noir and many white varietals), but there is always some variation from producer to producer. Some wine falls outside of this range, for instance Port weighs in closer to 20%, while Muscat and Riesling are usually a bit below 10%.

Wine Style Guide

Light & Fruity

Red wines that are more fruit-forward and lighter in tannin and body.

Smooth & Supple

Medium bodied reds that go down easy, with smooth tannins and supple fruit.